Button-attaching machine.



B. KOTKOV'SKY.

BUTTON ATTAGEING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APRJA, 1914.

Eatented Mar. 30, 19M.

WTNESSES /m/E/v TOR 55mm Mw Karima/.sw

B. KOTKOVSKY.

BUTTON ATTAGHING MACHINE.

APPLIGATIQN FILED APB.14, 1914. pgggrpfgygb .Patented Man 30, 1915.

8 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

HUM/EVS- B. KOTKOVSKY. BUTTON ATTAGHING' MACHINE.

APPLIATION FILED APR.14, 1914.

Patented Man 30, 1915.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

/NVENTH B. KOTKOVSKY.

BUTTON ATTAGHING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED A \.1=1z.14, 1914.

mente@ Mar. 30, m5.

B SHEETSSHEET fh B. KOTKOVSKY. BUTTON ATTACHING'MAGHINE APPLICATION lILBD APR.14, 1914.

Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

if/WAHM' Marmol/swr' /1 TTUHNEYS B. KOTKOVSKY.

BUTTON ATTAGHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APB. I4, 1914.

ll pl 3%997@ Q Patented Mar. 80, 1915.

8 SHEETS-SHEET '7.

M# By W B. KOTKOVSKY.

BUTTON ATTAGHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Aram, 1914.

g'@ Patented Mm. 30 3.915.

8 SHEETS-SHEET E.

/1 UOM/EVS of the buttons to tached to shoes, gai'ters,

BENJAJHN KOTKOVSK'Y, OE NEW .screeninfo montan commits, niconrona'rnp,

snaren' or New vente'.

YORK, .'LT. Y?, ASSIGNOR TG THE RAPD BUTTON- OF NEWT YORK, N. Y., A. G0320-l UTTN-TTACHING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters 'atent.

Patented Mar. 3G. 191155..

Application led April le, 1914i.. Serial'lfo. 831,74@

To all lwhom it may concern:

Be it known that LBENJAMIN Ko'rnovsirr, a subject of the Czar of Russia, and a resident or" the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented anew and lmproved uttomttaching Machine, of which the following is a full, clear,4 and exact description.

Thisinvention relates to button attaching machines of that type `which includes a mechanism for making, .driving and clenching the staples whereby the buttons are atleggings and other articles. y

rlhe general objects of the invention are to improve the construction and operation of machines of the` character referred to so as to be thoroughly reliable and efficient inl use, automatic in its various operations, and so designed as to be adapted for use with buttons of diHei-ent sizes.

One of the specific objects of the invention is the provision of a .staple-forming mechanism towhich the staple wire is fed automatically in timed relation to the feed be attached by the staples, but which is so controlled that when a button fails to feed to the staple-forming mechanism the feed of the wire is interrupted so that there is no danger of clogging the ma chine and vof staples being driven into the shoe, or other article.

Another object of the invention is the provision of. a novel arrangement of stapleforming and driving elements and operat ing means therefor, in combination with novel, simple and effective means for feeding buttons successively to staple-receiving position, the staple-forming mechanism including a die which is automatically retracted by the staple bender during the last Vpart of the movement of the latter, so as to make way for the staple driver, the parts being so related that the staple driver has imparted thereto an initial return movement to make lway for the return of, the die to its normal position so as to receive and support the next button to be supplied with a staple.

1sVith such objects in view, and others which will appear as the description proceedspthe invention comprises various novel 'features of construction' and arrangement AFigure 1 is a side view of `larged of parts which will be set forth with particularity in the followingdescription and claims appended hereto.

ln the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and wherein similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views, the machine with the parts in initial position, the button hopper being shown in section; Fig. 1a is a sectional view on line 1a-la, Fig. l, through the button feed chute. Fig. 2 .is a View taken from the opposite side of Fig. v1, with the hopper in section; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine; Fig. l is a view similar to Fig. l, showing the hopper in lowered or idle position, as when a feed chute is being fed by hand with style of button di'erent from that in the hopper; Fig. 5 is an ensectional view taken vertically through the machine in a plane parallel with the line of feed of the buttons and of movement of the staple bender and driving ele ments, the bending and driving elements being shown retracted and about to be moved successively on their working strokes and a staple-forming wire having' been fed to a button; Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 531-52 Fig. 5, through the staple-forming and driving mechanism. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing the staple 4bender and driving elements at the end of their working strokes and a button attached to a shoe or other article bythe staple thereof being clenched; Figli:L is a perspective view of the actuator 'for the staple bender and staple driver. Fig. 7 is a transverse section showing the staple wire feeding and cutting mechanism; Fig. 8 is a view of the wire cutter as seen on theline 8-48, Fig. Fig. 9 is a detail view showing the means for operatively connecting the wire feeder with its actuator when a button is in assembled position to receive a staple; Figs. 10 and Tiflare plan views of the staple die, bender and driver; the figures respectively showing the wire before and after being bent into a staple; Fig. 12 is aside view of the staple bender; and Fig. lQ/l is a perspective view of asection oi wire from which a staple is formed, the: wire being cut obliquely at its ends to form piercing points.

Referring .to the drawings. l designates the table or shelf of the machine, which is formed with a hub 2 that is suitably fastened to the upper end of a hollow standard or column 3 provided at its lower end with a suitable tripod or base frame (not shown), and extending throughV this column is an operating rod 4 that has its' lower end connected with a depressible springraised treadle (not shown) whereby power is applied to the machine for operating the various instrumentalities thereof. On the table 1 is a frame A that supports an inclined chute B that receives buttons from a hopper C in which is a button pick-up means D, which oscillates in a vertical plane in the hopper D, so'that buttons can be taken out by the device and delivered to the chute B. At the lower end of the chute is a combined staple-forming and driving mechanism E to which buttons are fed from the chute by an ejector F and a star wheel G, and associated with the staple-forming and driving mechanism E is a wire feeding means H and cutting means I.

Taking up first the staple-forming and driving mechanism E, reference is to be had to Figs. 5, 6 and 11 and 12.' 10 designates a staple-forming die which is vertically movable in a guideway 1]. in the front part of the frame Azy The upper end of this die is formed into a flat seat 12 on which the head of a button b is adapted to rest, as shown in members of the staple are guided as the staple is being formed, as shown in Fig. 11, and these grooves serve to support the staple with the button attached thereto, and guide the staple` as it is being driven by the driver 18 through the fabric and against the anvil from the position shown in Fig., 11l to that shown in Fig. 6.

members 16 and 16 of the bender, on which members the button slides. sides of the bender have horizontal webs or anges 22 which'engage in guide grooves 23 Fig. 5, of the opposite side walls of the frame A.

The staple-forming die lOvis vertically re- The oppositel As the staple is being I driven the button is supported on the side ciprocated in timed relation to the movements of the staple benderand driver, and,

as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, thel die 10 has on I by the movement of the bender while' moving forwardly after havingformed a staple.; The benderis provided with a wiping por- Fig. 5, and in this seat end of the die is a `tion 30, Figs. 5 and-6, which-isadapted to transverse opening 13 that is adapted to receive a section of wire s from which a staple is formed, as shown in Fig. 10; and also in. the upper end of this die is a slot or groove 14`communicating with the Wire-receiving opening 13, .so thatthe shank or eye 'i of a button can venter the die with the head of the button uppermost. Coperating with the staple-forming die 10 is a staple bender 15 havingsidemembers 16 and 16- spaced apart lso that the die. will be disposed 'between thermembers as the bender moves from the position? shown in'Fig. 10 to that iniFig. 11 in bending the endsl of the wire s into a staple. The bender `15 has a longitudinal channel 17 in which is slidable a staple driver 18 which is moved into engagement with the completed staple to drive the same outwardly in to engagement with the anvil orclenching die 19, but before this driving actiony takes place the staple-forming 'dielO is withdrawn downwardly out of the path, of the staple driver 18, so that the staplecanv be'carried to the anvil. Before vthe staple Wires 4is fed to the staple-forming' mechanism E, abutton is supplied to the said mechanism in such a position that the shank or eye of the button will lien in the opening-V13 vof the die. The members 1 6 and 16L hase their outer edges provided with recesse# 20 .whichreceive the wire s, and the inner apposed faces of the members of the bender have grooves 21 into which the side .engage a cam or beveled surface 31 extendbender 15, the member 26 is pressed downwardly after the staple `is formed, so as to withdraw the forming portion ofthe die l()v out of the path of the staple'driver 1,8. As soon as the bender begins to recede,`which occursuafter the staple driver is-partly returned, the spring 29 snapsthe member26 upwardly and quickly raises the die 10 to normal position and in readiness to receivevthe next button and staple wire. y

The actuating means for the staple bend -ing and driving elements comprises a bell crank lever J which has an arm 32 connected with the upper end of the operating rod 4: in the column 3 of the machine, and the other arm 33`is provided with teeth or lugs 34,35 and 36, which serve to reciprocatethe' staple bender and driver. The actuating element or lever J oscillates on a horizontal axis 37, so that the teeth 34, 35A and 36 travel in an arcuate path under the rearl portions of the staple bender and driver, both of which 'reciprocate rectilinearly and in tangential relation to the arcuate path of the said teeth or lugs. On the rear end of the staple bender 15 are spaced shoulders or abutments 37 and 38, and on the rear end of the staple driver is an abutment 39, all of which abutments travel in straight lines which cut across the arcuate lines of travel of the teeth anti "When in norinei position, is siioun in arm 33 of the actuator .moves to f in n clockwise direeoions and front s 40 of the 3% strikes the shoulder or abutment 3T ci the oie ben/ier enti moves the iotter the sin; until tile to' 534i disenge-ges sneii siiouifier actuator continues to with the to, i passing under the beniier Without not' the saine. Finally the tootii or ieg oo oi the actuator engages behind the stupie drive i8 and moves the lutte-r to the rigglit to drv iiie stapie through the shoe or fabric S, Fig. 6, for attaching the button thereto. During this movement of the bender by the 'actuator the tooth 353 ci' the letter posses under the projection or abutment 39 of the .staple driver, but when the staple river reaches the end of its driving movement the lug 39 will lie in the path of the tooth 35, so that as the actuator returns or inoves vto the left the said tooth 35 will engage the abutment 39 und partially retract or return the staple driver to s point Where it ciears the die 10 and leaves it remaining momentarily becausetlietooth 35 disengages and passes under the abutment 35X At about this time the tooth 231i engages the shoulder or abutment 3S of the stzipie bender so that the letter is retracted to allow the die eie voting member 2,6 to inove upwardly eno. restore the die i0 to normal position 'Ine tooth 34- oontinues to move tile staple eender backwordlv, and also engages tite ing 39 o'j the driver so that the letter nieves with the bender to the position show?. in Fig. 5, Where the tooth 34- passes the staple driver enti bender. The tooth 35 is just Wide enougii to engage the 111g 39 the stple (iriver enel clears the shoulder of the staple benoiem but the tooth 34 is Wide enc-ugh to engage both the projection 39 and shoulder 38 to effect simultaneous movement ot the stapie bemler and driver @turing the final part oi the movement of both. The bencier has s one-step movement both forward anti bacioward and the dri er has s one step forward movement und it two step ret-urn movementA The Wire feeding mechanism H comprises.7 is shown in Fig. 7, o heli crank lever which lios an upwardly extending erm it 'orovided at its upper extremity with o iixed jaw i3 with which cooperates s springpressed jaw Lisi, and. between Aliese the 'wire w from which the staples are orniefi extends. in tiie scent Woll ci the chinekimnie 'iii niissue Lili throng? tlie Wire eilte ie stzipiefi'orn f tliroiie'h this :logre is a spring-presse ppi? niv 46 which is seciireci to the ireine- A by e Divot screw 4T, and on this screw is a spring en extremity i8 which engages e f the i6 to friction-oily e' element or deine, or to rig, i' b. Y, is permit i movement is prevented., The

the o i oil eeii. tiie wire opposite movement sw ifi reieses the ivi-re,

tionerjv' gri o'ng oiv The short erin of tiie Wire feeding lever is connecte of; e pivot 'boit si with e iever 52 uiornined on e depending bracket on the botfoin of' the table i. "lie outer end of the iever 52 is pivotsiiy connected at 56 with e iever 57 which is ipivoteei on the 'oiciuin 58 for the iever it the niiddie of this levver 57 is nivotaiiy connected ov it screw 59 a vertiesiiy reciprocating member 60 disnosed directly unier the die l0 and movable in onfopening 6i in tiie tebie 1. The sys- 'tem of levers or connections between the eienient 60 enti Wire eeiiing lever 41.1 serves es motion ninitipiying ineens so es to feed the proper amount of Vwire to the staple ifornoin e mechanism.

oe `i'eeeiing ofi Wire to the steph-forming @.epenfis upon the Vpresent-e of a n in ii noeciianisrii9 and consequent enti/on siis to ee, no Wire wiil be `.o the mechanism to canse clogging or l 'nperi'ect working. i movable button holder ii., Figsj and 9, is mounted over the itorrning mechanism, so that as o initton is to the latter, the holder Wiil be raised enti therebvcontrol the ope ation or" the Wire feeder H. The actuator for the Wire feeder comprises a medialljv liicrurneci lever 62 which has :in extremity (i3 extending between two spaced. :ibutinents Gli sind in 'the member 60 of the Wire feeding medinfnisin. Aine ronge or movement of the lever 62 is such that the extremity (33 willv swing un anti down 'between the nbutinents @i snol 65 without importing movement to the elenient 6th, init this iost motion is taken up when the button is in staple-receiving position in the staple-forming mechanism, so that the iever (i9, Wiii cause the wirl feeder to be zictnsiteci *lov nooveinen being imparteci lov the lever 52 to the element 60. This lost niet-ion taire-up device comprises :i inem* ber 66 resting on tne lever S2 enti movable 'into the recess 67 formed 'iiet'iveen the eloutments 634i and The .member 6 is connected with n, crank srrnf arranged Within the of the 'inociiine anni ngionnte on e recit shaft en f outer enti o-Wliicli is e crank erin 70 that is iiingedlv connected et the lower enti of e lever Zi fulernnietl at T5 on the outside of tlie frame A. The upper end et this iever Zi is connecteii .vitii the button-hold' device ii. by a crenlr T35 i? vf'iiifrii stapte* Ltrernity 63 of tlie lili a shaft 74 journaled in a bearing 75 on the 'frame A, which shaft has another crank arm 76 connected by a pin 77 with the button-holding device K. Consequently, when this button-holding device is raised by a button passing thereunder to staple-receiving position, the cranks 76 and 73 are raised, and thereby the lever 71 is moved from the full to the dotted line pqsition, Fig. 9, si) that the motion take-up device 66 isl thrown into the recess 67 of the element 60, so that as the actuating lever 62 of the wire feeding,

mechanism is moved, the staple wire wil be fed another step into the machine for supplying the blank for the next staple.

The lost motion take-up device 66, Fig. 9, is withdrawn from the element 60 when the button-holding device K drops by means of a spring 78 coiled around the fulcrum'72 and having one end engaging a projection 79 on the lever 71, so as to move the latter from the dotted to the fullv `lineposition.

Owing to the position .of the pivotaly center 8O ofthe button-holding device K with respect to the fulcrum 72 of the lever 71, a slot 81 is provided in the vupper end of the lever 71 to receive the pin 82 on the cranku 73.- The means for, operating the wire feed.

actuating lever162 within the frame A comprises a leaf spriiig 83 fastened to the lever and Ahaving.. its free end 84 bearing on the vtable 1, as shown in'Fig. 1, and on the mam lever J of the machine is a projection 85 carried by the arm 32 and so arranged as to move downwardly into engagement with the rear lend of the lever 62 or the purpose of pressing such rear end downwardly' in opposition tothe tension of the spring 83, so as tothrow the front end 63 of the lever 62 upwardly to actuate the wire feeding lever 41, Fig. 7,'in a direction to feed wire toy 4edges 88 will form a raceway for the but.-

tons to slide down, and by spacing the plates 86rand 87 apa rt a longitudmal groove 1s .provided in this raceway for the Shanks or eyesl of the buttons. A guard 89; extends longitudinally of the raceway and 1s spaced above the edges l88, so that it is imposslble for the buttons to be thrown out of the raceway, such guard being fastened to the lates of the chute by brackets 90. At the ower end of the chute and forming extensions of the edges 88 of the plates of the chute are springs 91 which support the buttons as theyare being conducted from the chute to the stapleyforming mechanism, the springs being yielding so as to accommodate buttons ofy different sizes. Reciprocating over this yielding extension of the chute formed by the springs 91 is the ejector F, which has a bifurcated lower extremity 92 which is adapted to engage slightly above the center of the lowermost button in the chute so as to Veject such button as the ejector moves downwardly from -the position shown in Fig. 6 to that shown in Fig. 5. This ejector is slidably mounted on the lower end of the button guard 8 9, and on this guard is a stop or gate element 93 in the form of a spring extending., over the buttons and having its lower` end free so as to yieldingly hold the buttons in the chute. On the guard is a pin 94 arranged with its lower end bearing Aon the spring 93 and the upper end of the pin is adapted to be engaged by4 a cam surface 95 on the ejector, so that asthe latter is moved to eject a button the cam 95 will press .the spring downwardly so that its free extremity will be in the path of the descendin next button as the lowermost button is bemg forced out by the ejector F. This tensioning of the springV by the pin 94 does not take place until after the lowermost button has passed out of gripping relation to the spring or gate 93. The reciprocation of the ejector is performed by a toothed segment 96X ivoted at 97 on extension lugs 98 of the guard 89, and theteeth of the segment mesh with rack teeth 99 on the ejector. The segmental gear 96 is provided with an arm 100 formed with parallel lugs 101 between which engages a pin 102 on vva reciproeating actuating element or link 103. This link, as shown in Fig. 4, is hingedly connected at 104 with the upper end of a swinging arm 105. which is fulcrumed at 106 on the side of the frame A. This arm 105 is provided with a pin 107 which extends into the frame A. through a slot 108, the inner end of this pin 107 engaging between spaced shoulders 109 and 110, Fig. 10, in the adjacent flange 22 of the staple bender 15, so that as the staple bender nears the end of its forward stroke the pin 107 is engaged by the shoulder 109, and the button ejector is retracted to the position shown in Fig. 6, and as the bender moves backwardl and nears the end of its stroke the pin 107 will be engaged by the shoulder 110 and cause the button ejector to move forwardly and eject a button.

The button feeder or star wheel G is lonected by fthe pivot screw 117 with thelinl' 'cated between the button ejector and stapleembodies a pair .51@3, as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6, so that as the link moves back and forth it will oscillete the pawl-carrying arm and move the avvl 11i into engagement With the successive teeth of the ratchetwheel 113 to move the same step by. step7 and consequently move the star button feeding wheel in the same manner. A. spring-pressed pavvl 118, Fig. l, also engages the ratchet Wheel so as to prevent back travel thereof. The star wheel Gr moves one step with each ejecting movement of the ejector F, and the teeth or arms of the star wheel successively engage buttons to deliver them to the stapleforming mechanism. The button holder K is an approximately rectangular frame having its side members 121 spaced apart With their rear ends fulorumed on the screw pivot 8() which passes through recesses 81*1 in the plates 86 and 8T of the button chute B, the screw being fastened in a bearing 122, Fig. l. The lovver portion of the star Wheel lies between the side members 121 of the button holder, and the ejector F moves downwardly between these members in ejecting a button. The under side of the holder l near its free end is provided with an approximately semi-circular recess 123 which is adapted to receive the head of a button when the latter is in staple-receiving position, as shown in Fig. 5, whereby the button is held properly in place. The star Wheel G moves the button from the ejector toward the button-receiving recess 123. rlhe head of the button during this movement from the ejector rst slides on the resilient -members or springs 91 and thereafter on the top surface of the staple bender 15 and staple driver 18. The holder K is provided with a button retainer or guide 124 which of rearwardly and upwardly curved fingers 125 extending along opposite sides of the bottom portion of the star wheel, this button retainer being pivoted at 126 and yieldingly pressed down- Wardly by a springr 127, so as to lie in the path of the buttonthat is fed by the star Wheel. The button as it feeds under the guide 12e and holder K Will lift the latter so that it will control the wire-feeding mechanism as hereinl'iefore described. To assist the starwheel in moving the button to staple-receiving position the staple driver is provided with a button shank-engaging element 128 arranged in the slot 129 which is provided in the driver for allowing the Shanks of the buttons t0 pass into staple-receiving position. This element 128 is adapted to yield to allow the Shanks of the but tons to pass along by the star wheel, and as soon as the Shanks pass the tip 130 of the element 128, the latter is thrown upwardly by a spring 131 acting on this element, and consequently as the driver moves forwardly to drive a staple, the element 128 will at the seme time carry the .nent button into pesition to be received by the holder K', so that when the parts of the staple forming the driving mechanism return to normel posi4 tion, theliutton will be ready Vto receive a Staple Wire from t e wire-feeding meehenismf; immediately after reeeiving the Wire the bender comes into play to the staple, and thereafter the driver acts to drive the staple into the fabric end attach. the bntton. he feeding movement of the star Wheel `occurs as the driver is nearing the end of its backward stroke and Acauses the button to assume a position where the shank will be in front of the element 128, so that with the next stroke of the driver a button will be moved to staple-receiving position, While at the same time a button-supplied staple will be etteehed to the shoe or other,

ertlcle.

To permit access to the hnttenfseding means, as well as to the stapler'orming mechanism, the feed chute B is 'pivotaily mounted on al pivot 131 on the rear upper' corner of the frame and consequently the chute can be tilted to the dotted-line posi tion, Fig. 4f. 1 catch 131i, Figs. 2 and 3, is srranged to lool: the chute in normal position. r@his catch is mounted on e pivot stud 135 and has a pin 136 which pesseslthrough a bearing bracket 137 on which the chute is pivoted, and this pin is adapted to engage with the chute te hold the same in normal position. By pressing the handle '138 of 'he latch 131 against the tension of the spring 139, Fig. 8, the latch can be released so that the chute can be moved to the dottedline position. Fig. e. ln throwing?,` out the chute in this manner the pin 162 on the link 103 disengages the ejector which is carried 'by the chute while the link 103 remains in position. This throwing back of the chute B is also made use of to empty the chute of its buttons, as the buttons in the chute will slide back into the hopper C, so chute can be used for the hand feeding.; of buttons of a different site from thebuttons in the hopper., it beinnT understood that the hopper will, during the hand feeding, remain in the full-line position` Fig. fr, so that buttons can be placed in the upper end of the chute Witho'l'it the hopper interfering.

To prevent the buttons in the chute from emptying ont as the chute is beineY thrown back, en automatic gate or stop device 140, Fig. 5, is employed to move into engagement with the button in the lower end of the chute and prevent the button from sliding; out.- This device 110 is pivoted at 141, and its button-engaging tip 142 is normally netracted out of the'path of the buttons in the chute by the extremity 143 'engaging an i abutment 144i which is stationary with respect to thetableor frame of the machine. A spring 145 carried by the chute presses on thet the the gate device 140 so that when the chute begins to move out of its normal position the tip 142 of the gate device will move into the feed groove of the chute or raceway and engage the shank of the button in the-bottom of the chute. lIt -will thus be seen that the gate device 140 is automatically closed and 'opened with the movement of the chute v from or to operative position.

The hopper C is a metal or other box having a cover 146. The front wall 147 of the hopper hasan opening 148 which is adapted to aline with the chute B, so that buttons can pass out of the opening into the chute. The bottom 149 slopes downwardly from both sides, and in the center is provided with a slot 150 through which the button pick-up device D works up and down. The button pick-up device comprises a pair of vertically sliding plates 151 and 152. The upper edges" 153 of the plates are beveled vinwardly so as to better pick up the buttons in the hopper, and these plates are spaced apart to provide a longitudinal groove 154 between them to accommodate the Shanks or eyes of the buttons while the heads of the latter rest on the upper edges 1.53 of the plates, and these plates when fully raised 'wao are in alinement with the chute, so that the buttons can flow by gravity down the plates and into the chute through the opening in the front 'wall of the hopper. l The pick-up plates' 151 and152 are' actuated respectively by levers 151a and 152a connected together by a horizontal shaft 155 journaled in the -upper rear corner oftheframe A. These 'levers have on -their upper rear ends pins 151 and 152h movable in slots 157 and 158 -on the 'plates 151 and 152, respectively, the said slots being of different configurations and so disposed that as the levers 151a and 152 are oscillated the plates will move up and down in the hopper, but only those buttons that have their eyes or Shanks -eXtending down will be caught on the pick-up device and feed into the chute.

Thehopper- C is adapted to have an up and down oscillatory movement, and for this purpose it is rovided with forwardlyextending arms 1 0 which are disposed at opposite sides of-the chute B and are pivoted thereto by a horizontal pivot 171 which also serves as a pivot for the forwardly-extending arms 151c and 152c of the pick-up plates 151 and 152, the arms of the saidlatter plates being disposed between the plates lforming the button chute. The hopper is adapted to drop by its own weight after the pick-up plates have moved to their lowermost position, and is adapted to be raised by the button pick-up device as the same moves upwardly, and for this latter purpose the plate 151 has a projection 172 on which the bottom of the hopper rests as a pick-up device D is moved upwardly'by i the levers 151a and 152% A trip lever 173 is mounted on the frame A and swings on a pivot 174. The upper end of this trip lever or catch has a notch 175 in which engages a projection 176 on the arm 170 of the hopper C, shown in Fig. 1, and on the lower end of the trip lever is a projection 177 that is located in the path 'of a projection 178'0n thcl lever 151, so that as the said. lever tilts during the downward movement of the button pick-up device D, the trip lever will be actuated so as to release the hopper and allow the same to drop, whereby the buttons in the hopper are agitated, and more effectively lodge on the pick-up device. A sprin 179 is coiled around the fulcrum 174 of the trip lever 173 and automatically returns the latter to a position where it will engage the projection 176 of the hopper when the latter is raised, so as to thereby support the hopper in raised pqsition until it 1s again tripped. The lever 151a for the button pickup device is connected by a link 180 which is connected at 181 with an arm 182 secured to the shaftor axis 37 of the lever J. This arm 182 is loose on the shaft 37 and is adapted to be clutched thereto when the buttons are to be fedautomatically to the stapleforming and attaching mechanism. For` clutching the parts togethethe shaft 37 has a dish 183 provided with a notch 184, and a catch 185 pivoted on the lever182 is adapted to be engaged in the notchi 184 of the disk 183, shown in Fig. 1, but /when the catch 185is released, as shown in Fig. 4, the hopper will be in lowered or inoperative position, so that buttons can be fed to the chute by hand while the rest of the machine will stud screw serving as shown in Fig. 7 to fasten the cutting blades or jaws to the part 189 of the frame A. The cutting jaws have arms 190 which are connected by links 191 with `an oscillatory disk 192. This disk has a shaft 193 which extends outwardly through the part 194 of the frame A, and has an arm 195 fastened thereto. This arm, as shown in Fig. 3, is adapted to be engaged-by a swinging arm 196 fastened to the end'of the main lever shaft 37. This shaft has a bifurcated head ,197 in which the, portion 198 of the lever 196 is disposed, and a pin pivot 199 pivotally connects the arm 196 to the head 197. A spring 200, as shown in Fig. 3,

a device moved by Contact with a button fed to the said mechanism, and a member inserted by the said device between the actuator and one abutment to cause the actuator feeder, and a device raised by a button in `the wire-feeding means, sai

entering -the fastener-forming mechanism and lowered as the button leaves the said mechanism for inserting and retracting the said member. y

12. A button attaching machine comprising a fastener-forming mechanism, a feeder for the fastener material, said feeder including an element having spaced abutments, an actuator movable back and forth between the abutments without imparting motion to the element and actuating the feeder, means for feeding buttons to the said mechanism, a member' insertible between the actuator and an abutment of the said element to move the latter with the actuator for operating the feeder, a device raised -by a button in entering the fastener-forming mechanism and lowered as the button leaves the said mechanism, and a motion transmitting means between the button-actuated device and said member for moving the latter into and out 0f` engagement with the actuator and element.

13. A button attaching mechanism'comprising a 'fastener-forming mechanism, means for feed-ing buttons successively thereto, a feeder for the -fastener material, an element through which motion is impartedto the feeder and having spaced abutments, an actuator engaged between the abutments, a member slidable on the actuator and movable to fill the gap between the abutments and actuator whereby the latter will operate the feeder, a pivoted device under which the buttons feed to the fastener-forming mechanism and cause the device to move on its pivot, and means for vtransmitting motion from the said device to the said slidable member.

111. A button attaching machine comprising a staple-forming and driving mechanism, means. for feeding .wire thereto, a button feeding means, a holder 'for holding a button in the mechanism during the forming of the staple and movable to receive and release the button, and actuatin means for actuating means consisting of twoparts both engaged with the wire 'feed means and operative onlyk when a -button is held by the holder, and one of the parts being disengaged from the Wire feeding means to prevent operation thereof when there is no button in the holder.

15. A button attaching machine comprising a stapleforming mechanism, `means driven directly by the staple forming mechanism for feeding buttons thereto, a device separate from said meansv for holding a button in the mechanism during the forming ofa staple and movable away from and toward the path of the button as the latter enters and' leaves the mechanism, and a -wirefeeding means controlled by the said device, whereby wire feeds only when a button is inthe mechanism.

. 16. A button attaching machine comprising a staple-forming mechanism, means for feeding buttons thereto, a device 'separate from'said means for holding a button in the mechanism during the forming of a staple and movable away from and toward the path of the button as the latter enters,

and leavesthe mechanism, and a, wire-feeding means controlled by the said device, whereby wire feeds only when a button is in the mechanism, said device consisting of a pivoted member extending along the path of the buttons to engage the same and hav- 'ing a seatV in line with the staple-forming mechanism-to grip a button and hold it in wwe-receiving position.

17. A button attaching machine comprising a staple-forming die, a staple bender, a Astaple driver, a clenching die, means for feeding a wire to the forming die, means carried by the staple-driver forfeeding a button to staple-receiving position, while the driver attaches another button to an article on the clenching die, a holder under which the button feeds and by which the button is held while receiving a staple wire, the

button moving the holder by a cam action, and means controlled by the holder for actuating the wire-feeding means only when a button is under the holder.

18. A button attaching machine comprising a staple-forming mechanism, a button feeding chute, a device for feeding one button at a time from the chute to the said mechanism, a holder separate frolnthe button feeding device vand under which the button is received anfl held in staple-forming position and movable to receive and release thebutton, a wire feeder, and operating means'controlled by the holder to feed wire only when a button is in staple-forming position.

19. A button attaching machine comprising a staple-formin mechanism. a. buttonfeeding chute, a device for feeding one button at a time ,from the chute to the said v ing a range of step forward' integere mechanism, a holder separate from the button feeding device and pivoted at the discharge end ot' the chute and extending in the direction of feed of the buttons and terminating over the staple-formmg mechanism, the free end of the holder having a. seat for receiving and holding a button in the mechanism and the free end being movable as the button is received and released, and a wire-feeding mechanism controlled bythe holder to feed wire to the staple- Jforming mechanism only when a button is therein.

20. A. button attaching machine including a reciprocating staple-forming die, a reciprocatory bender, a pivoted member connected with the die and engaged by the bender during the' last part or its bending stroke to disengage the die from the staple, and a spring acting on the member to return the die as the bender recedes.

2l. button attaching machine including a staple-forming die provided with a notch, a member having an end engaging in the notch to move the die, a bender cooperating with the die to form a staple, means on the member with which the bender engages on,

its stapleforming stroke to actuate the member and disengage the die from the staple, and means acting on the member to return the die to normal position as the bender recedes.

22. il. button attaching machine including a staple bender, a staple driver having a oneand a two step backward movement, and an oscillatory actuating element engaging and driving the bender and driver.

Q3. A button attaching machine including a reciprocatory staple bender having a onestep movement forwardly and backwardly, a reciprocatory staple driver having a onestep forward and a two step backward movement, and an oscillatory actuating element having separate means for engaging and actuating the bender and driver.

2li. A button attaching machine including an actuator having an arcuate movement, a staple driver movable tangentially to the line of movement of the actuator and havmovement less than the latter, the actuator for engaging an reciprocating the staple driver by a one-step forward and a two-step backward movement.

25. A. button attaching machine including an actuator having an arcuate movement, a staple driver movable tangentially to the line of movement of the actuator and having a range or movement less than the latter, a lug on the staple driver, means on the actuator to engage the Ilug for driving the driver, and a plurality of successively operative means on the actuator to return lthe driver to initial position.

and means on 26. A button attaching machine including a reciprocatory staple bender, a 4reciprocatory staple driver, an oscillatory actuator having members for engaging the bender and driver in successive order to form a staple, and then drive the same, a third member for engaging the driver for partially retracting the saine, one of the first-mentioned members acting to complete the return of the driver, and a staple-forming die moved out or the path of the driver to permit the staple 'to be driven and movable back to normal position as the driver is partially retracted, one of said first mentioned members being arranged to engage the bender and driver to retract the same to initial position.

27. Av button attaching machine comprising a staple die, a staple bender cooperating therewith, means actuated by the bender after the staple is formed for moving the die away from the formed staple, a staple driveroperative after the die has been withdrawn from the staple, means for retracting the driver and permitting the die to return to initial position for receiving a button, means for returning the bender to initial position, and means actuated by the bender for feeding buttons successively to the die.

28. A button attaching machine comprising a staple-forming die, means for feeding'buttons successively thereto, means for feeding Wire to the die, a bender movable to form the wire into a staple, a lost-motion connection through which the bender actu- 'ates the button feeding means,- means for moving the die to disengage the staple and button, a staple driver movable into engagement with and driving the staple after the die releases the latter, means for moving the staple driver backWai-dly far enough to permit the die to return to normal position for receiving a button, and means for moving the driver and bender backvvardly to initial position.

29. A button attaching machine comprising a die for receiving a button and a staple wire, a bender cooperating therewith to form the wire into a staple, means for moving the die out of engagement with the finished sta? ple,`a driver for driving 'lior mounting the driver and bender to reciprocate, an oscillatory actuator, a tooth on the actuator 'for engaging the bender to move the same on its working stroke, a tooth on the actuator for engaging the driver to actuate the same on its working stroke,.a third tooth arranged to engage the driver and partially return the same., and means for restoring the die to button and wire-receiving position when the turned, said irst-mentioned tooth being arranged to engage the driver to Jfully return the same during the return of the bender to initial position.

3G. A button attaching machine compristhe staple, means driver is partially reing a die for' receiving a button and a staple wire, a staple bender, means actuated by the staple bender for removing the die fromstaple-forming position. as thebender moves after bending the staple, means for restoring the die as thebender moves on its return stroke, 'a driver movable intoengagement with the staple to drive the same immediately after the die is removed ,from the 'staple, A a reciprocatory. actua-tor, a member thereon for engaging the driver to move the same throughout its working stroke, a memberon the actuator for moving thedriver dur-ing the initial part of its return stroke to make .Way for the returnv of the die to initial position, and a member on the actuator serving during one stroke of the latter to move the bender on its working stroke and on the backward stroke of the actuator to return the bender and driver to initial position.

- 31. A button attaching machine comprising a staple-forming mechanism, means for feedingbuttons successively to the stapleforming mechanism, and a staple driver, said driver including a button shank engaging element for moving a button to staple-receiving position While a previous button is being attached to an article by the driver.

32. A button attaching machine compris'F ing a staple-forming mechanism, a staple driver having a longitudinal slot for receiving the shank of a button, a yielding member in the slot for engaging the shank of a butiton and moving the same to staple-receiving position in the said mechanism 4While the driver is Vdriving a staple, and means for reciprocating the driver to permit buttons to be supplied successively to the driver-in a manner to engage the shanlm in the slot and in front of the saidyielding'member, said member being yielding onthe return stroke of the driver to pass by the shank of the nextQ button to be fed mechanism.

33. A button .attaching machine comprising avstaple-forming die, a bender for forming astaple on the die, means forlmoving the die after the staple is formed and leaving the staple intthe bender, a staple driver, means carried by the staple driver for mov- Aing a button into a position to be received by the die and to receive a staple Wire, and

to the staple-formingl means for holding the button with respect tothe die during the return stroke of the bender and drive f 34. A button attaching machine comprising a staple-forming die, a bender for forming a 'staple on the die, meansffor moving the die after the staple is formed and leaving the staple in the bender, a staple driver, means carried by the staple drivervfor movinga button into a position to be received by the die and to receive a staple Wire, and a single actuating element -for the bender ltwo subscribing Witnesses.

BENJAMIN KoTKovsKY.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH DUBr, CHATTEN BBADWAY.

Copies of this patent may 'be obtained forI ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents, Washington, D. C. 

